FIA clarifies skipping races issue

The FIA has clarified the recent revelation by Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt that teams will be able to miss up to three Grand Prixs without penalty. The FIA has said that any team absent from a race weekend will be in breach of contract and therefore could face punishment.

The FIA statement reads, “Following recent reports on the interpretation of clauses in the Concorde Agreement concerning the concept of a Team’s ‘participation’ in the FIA Formula One World Championship, the FIA wishes to make the following clarification:

From a sporting and regulatory point of view, each Team that has registered for the Championship is obliged to take part in every event of the season. Any failure to take part, even for just one Championship event, would constitute an infringement both of the Concorde Agreement and the FIA Regulations.”